Around the region for Jan. 11, 2013

Published: Friday, January 11, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 10:12 p.m.

A Gainesville woman was arrested Wednesday on a child abuse charge on allegations she used an extension cord to discipline her granddaughter, according to an arrest report.

Charged was Joyce Gainey Williams, 56. She was arrested following an investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families, the report states.

The incident happened about two weeks ago, police said. The granddaughter told police her grandmother hit her several times with the cord, and a U-shaped mark was still visible when police spoke with her Wednesday, the report states.

Williams told police that she used the extension cord as a last resort of discipline because the girl does not comply with other methods, according to the report. Williams told police she did not abuse the girl, the report states.

— Cindy Swirko

STATE

Two killed in fiery head-on collision

LAKE WALES — Two people are dead following a fiery, head-on collision in Central Florida.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that 83-year-old Walter S. Griffith was driving the wrong direction on State Route 60 near Lake Wales Wednesday morning when he hit a semi loaded with sawdust driven by 53-year-old Michael Sprouse. The crash remains under investigation, but officials believe Griffith may have gotten into the wrong lane when the road opened into four lanes.

— The Associated Press

Man held in fatal stabbing of mother

WEST PALM BEACH — A Palm Beach County man has been charged with the murder of his mother after allegedly stabbing her over a dispute about a TV show.

Alan Farajian, 23, reported the death of his 62-year-old mother to police late Tuesday.

According to an affidavit, an argument over a TV show spurred the suspect to slit her throat with a steak knife, then stab her in the throat and chest at his Palm Beach Gardens home. Police say the man told them he had stopped taking medications for psychological problems including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

— The Associated Press

Three charged with dragging man

DAYTONA BEACH — Authorities in Central Florida say a man was shocked with a stun gun, beaten, tied to the bumper of a truck and then dragged a half-mile down a dirt road.

Volusia County deputies say the three were drinking with Morris’ ex-husband, 54-year-old Robert Hall, in the house Morris shared with her former husband when they shocked him several times and punched him. Deputies say they then tied rope around his ankles and attached the other end to the rear bumper of a truck.

Hall managed to escape to a neighbor’s house for help. He is being treated at a Daytona Beach hospital.

— The Associated Press

Scott says he didn’t overstate health costs

FORT LAUDERDALE — Republican Gov. Rick Scott defended himself Thursday against criticism that he was overstating how much the federal health care overhaul would cost his state, saying it’s unclear how much the federal government will fund.

His comments came a day after the state health care agency reduced its estimate of Florida taxpayers’ share of the cost from $26 billion over a decade to $3 billion.

The revision fueled Democrats’ accusations that Scott — a longtime critic of President Barack Obama’s health care reform — was overstating the numbers to justify his opposition.

The governor has maintained that the earlier figure is realistic, saying it’s not clear what the changes would cost the state. The governor said he’s earnestly seeking the real cost of the plan, adding he met with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in Washington this week to get a handle on exact figures. “We don’t know what it’s going to cost. We don’t know what the federal government is going to fund,” he said during a stop at a Fort Lauderdale high school.

<p class="bold allcaps">Police Beat</p>
<p><b>Grandmother charged with child abuse</b></p><p>A Gainesville woman was arrested Wednesday on a child abuse charge on allegations she used an extension cord to discipline her granddaughter, according to an arrest report.</p><p>Charged was Joyce Gainey Williams, 56. She was arrested following an investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families, the report states.</p><p>The incident happened about two weeks ago, police said. The granddaughter told police her grandmother hit her several times with the cord, and a U-shaped mark was still visible when police spoke with her Wednesday, the report states.</p><p>Williams told police that she used the extension cord as a last resort of discipline because the girl does not comply with other methods, according to the report. Williams told police she did not abuse the girl, the report states.</p><p><i>— Cindy Swirko</i></p><p><b>STATE</b></p><p><b>Two killed in fiery head-on collision</b></p><p>LAKE WALES — Two people are dead following a fiery, head-on collision in Central Florida.</p><p>The Polk County Sheriff's Office reported that 83-year-old Walter S. Griffith was driving the wrong direction on State Route 60 near Lake Wales Wednesday morning when he hit a semi loaded with sawdust driven by 53-year-old Michael Sprouse. The crash remains under investigation, but officials believe Griffith may have gotten into the wrong lane when the road opened into four lanes.</p><p><i>— The Associated Press</i></p><p><b>Man held in fatal stabbing of mother</b></p><p>WEST PALM BEACH — A Palm Beach County man has been charged with the murder of his mother after allegedly stabbing her over a dispute about a TV show.</p><p>Alan Farajian, 23, reported the death of his 62-year-old mother to police late Tuesday.</p><p>According to an affidavit, an argument over a TV show spurred the suspect to slit her throat with a steak knife, then stab her in the throat and chest at his Palm Beach Gardens home. Police say the man told them he had stopped taking medications for psychological problems including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.</p><p><i>— The Associated Press</i></p><p><b>Three charged with dragging man</b></p><p>DAYTONA BEACH — Authorities in Central Florida say a man was shocked with a stun gun, beaten, tied to the bumper of a truck and then dragged a half-mile down a dirt road.</p><p>The victim's ex-wife, 61-year-old Jeannette Morris; her brother, 63-year-old Harold Anderson; and another woman, 46-year-old Joan Hobart, are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated battery.</p><p>Volusia County deputies say the three were drinking with Morris' ex-husband, 54-year-old Robert Hall, in the house Morris shared with her former husband when they shocked him several times and punched him. Deputies say they then tied rope around his ankles and attached the other end to the rear bumper of a truck.</p><p>Hall managed to escape to a neighbor's house for help. He is being treated at a Daytona Beach hospital.</p><p><i>— The Associated Press</i></p><p><b>Scott says he didn't overstate health costs</b></p><p>FORT LAUDERDALE — Republican Gov. Rick Scott defended himself Thursday against criticism that he was overstating how much the federal health care overhaul would cost his state, saying it's unclear how much the federal government will fund.</p><p>His comments came a day after the state health care agency reduced its estimate of Florida taxpayers' share of the cost from $26 billion over a decade to $3 billion.</p><p>The revision fueled Democrats' accusations that Scott — a longtime critic of President Barack Obama's health care reform — was overstating the numbers to justify his opposition.</p><p>The governor has maintained that the earlier figure is realistic, saying it's not clear what the changes would cost the state. The governor said he's earnestly seeking the real cost of the plan, adding he met with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in Washington this week to get a handle on exact figures. “We don't know what it's going to cost. We don't know what the federal government is going to fund,” he said during a stop at a Fort Lauderdale high school.</p><p><i>— The Associated Press</i></p>